The mountain lion’s snarl drew Trevin MacGregor’s gaze to the rocks.  “Easy, boy.”  He calmed his horse and grabbed the rifle from its sheath.  With an angry roar the large cat jumped to an overhanging rock.  The stallion rose on his hind legs, flailing wildly until Trev lost his grip.  He hit the ground hard enough to daze him, knock the wind from his lungs and leave him temporarily unable to move.  The rifle landed four feet from his reach.  He braced for the cat’s imminent attack.

She stepped from the trees a huntress, a warrior with a sling in her hand.  “Don’t move!”

He gaped, wondering where the woman had come from, if she was reality or musings of his imagination.

With one swing of the leather strap a stone slammed against the cat’s head, quickly followed by two more.  The snarling predator scampered into the brush.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the dark-haired beauty.  She didn’t look real to him at first.  He eased to his feet and moved closer to the vision.  When she didn’t move he ran his fingers along her alabaster cheek.

The cat growled again. 

“Wait, stay still.”  He grabbed his rifle and checked the surrounding area.  “It’s clear,” he said once he was certain the lion was gone.  He turned to the woman.

“Where’d you go?”  He found no trace she’d ever been there.  Had he cracked his head hard enough to dream up a mirage?

“Trev?”  His brothers came around the bend at a fast clip.  “Are you all right?” 

Tam slid off his horse and grabbed hold of him.  “When we found Rochian racing down the mountain without you, we figured you’d been hurt.” 

“Nah, I’m fine.  Had a confrontation with that damned cat we’ve been hearing lately.  Check that rock up there for blood, Jory.  I suspect he’s injured and that’s why he’s coming in so close.”

“Bloody tracks leadin’ into the brush,” Jory said, jumping off the rock and startling the stallion. 

Trevin grabbed Rochian’s bridle.  “Easy, boy.”  He rubbed along the dark nose, speaking quietly to soothe his horse.

“Tam, I want that cat dead before Quintin brings the herd in.”

“I’ll track it from here and meet you back at the ranch.”

“Take your brother with you.  And, I want to see its remains when you bring it in.”  Welts on the cat’s head would prove he wasn’t hallucinating.  If there was a goddess living in his woods, he needed to know who and where she was.